Rotunda Rumblings
Sin taxes out, Browns bonds in: Ohio House Republicans are preparing to dump Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed tax increases on recreational marijuana, cigarettes, and sports gambling from the state budget bill next week, according to House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, DeWine had sought the tax hikes to pay for a $1,000-per-year child tax credit, police training and jail improvements, and funding for sports stadiums like a proposed Cleveland Browns stadium in suburban Brook Park. However, GOP lawmakers are instead gearing up to add budget language to grant the Browns’ request for $600 million in state-backed bonds to help cover the Brook Park stadium’s estimated $2.4 billion cost.
Shutdown showdown: A budgetary showdown between Democratic legislators and Republicans who control Congress and the White House could trigger a government shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday unless a chunk of U.S. Senate Democrats agree to a temporary funding bill that Ohio Democrats argue would rip off their constituents, Sabrina Eaton reports. All Ohio Republicans support the bill. “The Democrats seem lost—they are either going to vote YES along with Republicans or vote NO and force America into a shutdown—a course of action they called reckless just a few months ago,” said a statement from U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, a Columbus-area Republican.
Read more Ohio politics stories
Funding pulled: Northeast Ohio Medical University is cutting funding for Black History Month and organizations that support students based on their race, ethnicity or gender. The school says it’s trying to comply with recent guidance from the administration of President Trump. The ACLU of Ohio, however, says this could be unconstitutional, Laura Hancock reports.
Infant Mortality: Ohio’s infant mortality has dropped to the lowest rate in years. The state had been stuck around 7 deaths per 1,000 live births, but preliminary numbers from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth put 2024’s rate at 6.5. Staver reports that DeWine and the department credit work by local nonprofits like Cradle Cincinnati for bringing infant deaths down and now seek to spread those “best practices” statewide.
Barnburner in the 14th? Democratic ex-Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill, in political retirement since his unsuccessful run for Ohio governor in 2018, says he intends to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce next year in the GOP-leaning 14th Congressional District, in far Northeast Ohio. As Pelzer reports, O’Neill -- who ran unsuccessfully in the 14th District back in 2008 and 2010 -- expressed optimism that he can do a lot better than Joyce’s Democratic opponent last year, who received a 30-day jail sentence while on the campaign trail.
Union Strong: Public and private unions in Ohio have banded together to oppose the collective bargaining changes for college faculty found in Senate Bill 1. “A threat to any union is a violation of the principles of and values that binds us together,” according to a letter emailed to all House members. It was signed by 36 unions, including the United Mineworkers of America and the Ohio Postal Workers Union.
Closing time: A Trump-themed store in suburban Cincinnati is closing its doors this week but not because sales were poor. Manager Don Anderson told The Enquirer the Trump merchandise business is booming. He’s packing his flags, hats and novelty items because his seven-month zoning permit from the local township has run out.
Buckeye Brain Tease
Question: What Ohio city used to be home to the Great Outdoor Underwear Festival?
Email your response to capitolletter@cleveland.com. The first correct respondent will be mentioned in next week’s newsletter.
Thanks to everyone who answered our last trivia question: What Ohio locality is known as “The town that started the Civil War?”
Answer: Oberlin
Cypress Public Affairs President Mike Caputo was the first to email with the correct answer.
On the Move
U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, a Republican from Troy, has endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy in the GOP primary for governor. Davidson has previously flirted with running for governor himself.
Birthdays
March 14: No birthdays
March 15: Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge; State Rep. Bob Peterson
March 16: Shawn Stevens, former state representative and director of intergovernmental relations for Secretary of State Frank LaRose
Straight from the Source
“People need to understand the bigger picture here that democracy is under assault.”
-NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano on how Republican lawmakers plan to change Ohio’s adult-use marijuana laws after voters approved legalization in November 2023.
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